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Professional wrestling is often termed to be “fake” by the fans. Although the matches are choreographed and scripted, the art of wrestling isn’t about hurting someone or showing off how truly agile you are, or how strong you are. Professional wrestling, like painting and dancing, is more about grace and the art of storytelling – something that most of the fans don’t understand. Although in the early period, professional wrestling was about the strongmen, but that was at a time when the fans were unaware about the kayfabe part of the business. Although showmanship and strength are integral parts of the business, it boils down to how you can enchant the fans with your work, and for a couple of hours, bind them in the illusion that is professional wrestling.With that said, the people involved in the business are just as proud of what they do in the ring, and are passionate about their craft. Although it’s no longer a secret that the “wrestlers” don’t really hate each other or hit each other to a bloody pulp for a piece of strap, the professional wrestling business has one of the highest, if not the highest rate of people getting seriously hurt. But being as passionate and proud of what they do, and with the saying “The show must go on” applying to professional wrestling more than any other contact sport, sometimes the superstars drag themselves to finish the bout, no matter how seriously they’re injured!In this article, we take a look at five such instances when the superstars pushed themselves through tremendous pain to finish the bout they were involved in.
#1 Stone Cold Steve Austin
Perhaps, there will never be another superstar who will captivate the imagination of the entire world quite like one man who became the biggest sensation back in the 90s. When Steve Austin cut the infamous ‘Austin 3:16’ promo after winning the KOTR tournament, he wouldn’t have had any idea about the movement he just started. Austin then went on to have arguably the greatest feud in professional wrestling history against his boss and the chairman of the WWE, Vince McMahon, and the rest as they say is history.
But during his run as the WWE Intercontinental champion, Austin was involved in a match against Owen Hart. Austin was a face and was supposed to go over Owen, but when Owen piledrove Austin onto the mat, something went very wrong. Austin was unable to move for a few seconds as Owen tried to distract the crowd by showboating, but even the referee knew that something was wrong, as Austin told him that he couldn’t move. But since he was the champion and was supposed to win the match, the referee couldn’t let Owen pin Austin. Austin broke his neck that night, but somehow managed to roll Owen up and pick up the victory!
#2 Mick Foley
Mick Foley is universally known for his daredevil antics, and for being one of, if not the most hardcore wrestler in the history of the business. Foley has put his body through everything imaginable, and has time and again put himself through excruciating pain and torture. After getting his ear ripped off and going through barbed wires and tables lit on fire, the fans thought they had seen everything. But the WWE, The Undertaker and Mick Foley had other ideas, and that was the night when professional wrestling was changed forever.
In one of the most infamous matches in wrestling history, Mick battled The Undertaker inside the Hell In A Cell, and was thrown off the cell onto the announcer’s table. Although that was a part of the plan, what happened next was completely insane, as Mick fell through the cell, and it was a miracle how he walked away after the bout! With his tooth sticking out of his nose and blood coming out of his mouth, the iconic image is still fresh in the minds of the WWE and professional wrestling fans around the world.
#3 Triple H
Triple H has been in the news lately, but because of all the wrong reasons. CM Punk recently came out with his side of the story (More on that later), and finally expressed his true feelings about Triple H, and how he didn’t want to work with him at WrestleMania this year. Although CM Punk isn’t the first ex – WWE superstar to bash Triple H, his revelations will certainly have an impact on how Triple H is looked at by the fans and the media.
Triple H, however has also put the business first on a few occasions, and one such instance was during a tag team match between himself and Austin against the team of Jericho and Chris Benoit. Triple H tore his quad while attempting to break a submission attempt, and later was put in the Walls of Jericho – something that sends a shiver up the spine of a fan. Imagine breaking your hand and then have it twisted by someone!
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#4 Chris Benoit
Benoit was one of the most revered and respected ‘wrestlers’ when he was alive, and although no one would argue regarding his work ethic and his unbelievable talent inside the squared circle, how things ended will always keep his name in the dark in the annals of wrestling history.
Chris Benoit was also one of the most passionate workers, and took pride in his craft. Benoit toiled for more than two decades, and endured many injuries in the process. One such instance was his broken neck during a TLC match in the WWE, but he somehow managed to not only finish the match, but also work hurt till the King of the Ring PPV later that year! The surgery that followed kept him on the shelf for a whole year.
You can view the video here – http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrr2ly_chris-benoit-s-neck-surgery-update_people
#5 Hardcore Holly
Bob Holly got the moniker of being ‘Hardcore’ because of how stiff he used to work, and also how he could endure unimaginable amount of pain in his matches. Hardcore Holly was notorious for his involvement in hardcore matches at a time when the Hardcore title meant something in the WWE. Holly also endured some of the most brutal injuries in a WWE ring, including a broken neck and a bad gash on his back, thanks to a table.
But perhaps, one of the incidents that reminds us about his passion for the business was when he broke his wrist in a match with Kurt Angle. Angle executed a moonsault from the top rope, but his knee landed on Holly’s wrist, snapping it in the process. Holly continued with the broken wrist and finished the match, but was sidelined for a while due to the injury.
